'Expensive Cardboard'?? - Blackheart Sassafras - Tommy's Tonewoods

Hope you enjoy this episode of a very understated tonewood!
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[@TomSandsGuitars]

Thanks for watching, folks. What do you think of this one? ❤

[@lavasharkandboygirl9716]

Your shorts are a terrible advertisement. I immediately went to the comments to find a link to the full video and there’s nothing. Not even in the description.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

@@lavasharkandboygirl9716 and yet here you are 😘

[@marimaeabreu]

The quilt with spalting is just stunning

[@TomSandsGuitars]

I need to revisit this wood

[@craigwilliams6145]

Hi Tom. I bought a lot of reclaimed Blackheart Sassafras from a Tasmanian dealer a number of years ago. Great looking wood, but as you said, sounds a bit like wet cardboard and this greatly reduced my enthusiasm to build with it. I finally got around to building a Dread with Sitka top at the end of last year. I was completely taken aback when I played it. It sounds amazing and unique. It has become my go to guitar this year and I'm in the process of building 3 other shapes. It's. a dream to work with. If an old hack like me can produce a beautiful sounding guitar with it, I'm sure a great luthier like you would produce an astounding guitar. I hadn't thought of making an all-Blackheart Sassafras guitar until you said it but will try it next year.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Folks keep saying the same thing! I’m excited to build with it 🙏

[@limesinfinity6864]

Hello, I have a question, is there a way to tell the speacies of dalbergias by grain pattern? My father used to make some folk instrumens and I found one nice peace of wood (could make 2-3 fingerboards out of it), he said it is rosewood but he doesnt know the speaces, it is rly old, for sure older then me and i am 27

[@TomSandsGuitars]

If you send me an email or dm for IG I should be able to tell you 🤞

[@saoirsepaddy]

Hi Tom Some one or something knock over a board the Ghost wanted to be known World Wide LOL Cool you finally did Blackheart Sassafras :)I'm getting a 10 String Long Scale Cittern done in Blackheart Sassafras B&S, Torrefied Adirondack Spruce , Birdseye Maple neck with Figure Walnut binding by Lawrence Nyberg . I dig your video's Cheers Tom

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Wonderful!

[@abydosianchulac2]

You mention wanting to make a monospecies sassafras guitar; does that happen much with other species? I'd gotten the feeling from your videos that the qualities that make a good top versus a good back/sides don't overlap much.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Koa, walnut, mahogany, sapele - you see it quite a bit. It really depends what you want from your guitar. But you’re right, generally speaking the qualities I look for in a top are not the same as the back and sides.

[@mattgrimmer9909]

Mostly Mahogany, but “all hog” guitars are simply wonderful (minus fretboard and bridge).

[@TomSandsGuitars]

@@mattgrimmer9909 agreed!

[@lebe220]

Hi Tom. How about a smaller guitar -in the style of those Waterloo (by Collings)? As a songwriter I have a cheap student´s guitar from Framus (maybe 1964) in that size. That´s the size I love to compose and arrange on. Greetings from Germany.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

I don’t know that particular model but we’re definitely thinking about a baby guitar!

[@lebe220]

@@TomSandsGuitars Carl Miner privately plays a Gibson J45 and a Waterloo. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aImwdntmn9ikf6M

[@lebe220]

@@TomSandsGuitars I found someone playing the guitar I found in a second hand shop: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bp-chHiMj5eHhKM

[@lebe220]

@@TomSandsGuitars PS: The back is arched (maple).

[@lebe220]

@@TomSandsGuitars PPS: Connected at the 12th fret and a thin body, which makes it comfortable to play. The arched back levels out the loss of volume.

[@jeffhigh2]

Thats a fairly plain example of the wood, it can be very dramatic in appearance. It does tend to move a LOT with humidity changes, something to be aware of, so I would not use it in a neck

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Agreed!

[@thetoneknob4493]

this might be suitable for rifle stocks.

[@gjl7444]

Hi Tom, having built a number of times with Blackheart Sassafras I believe that it will surprise how rich it is. I found an OM size was great. I've teamed it with Lutz, Sitka and an Australian wood called Silver Quandong with great success. Taylor did a 914 limited edition range in Sassy. Here's a KZbin video of what it can sound like. Good luck it's a fantastic wood. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnmTl56YitZ1eqc

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Awesome thank you!!

[@MrTele57]

Tom where do you get your aprons ? I use carhartt but they’re very stiff .yours look a bit softer .. brand ?

[@TomSandsGuitars]

I had mine custom made by a friend a while back. We actually sold them for a little while.

[@MrTele57]

@@TomSandsGuitars cool. Let me know if you’re doing them again .Thanks. The carhartt stiff as a board. 😀

[@keestoft250]

Clearly should be abbreviated to 'spermschat' for ease of pronunciation within the guitar community?

[@TomSandsGuitars]

I concur.